NFL

AP Interview: Pioli admits 'I've made mistakes'

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)

The worn-out notebook with the blue cover that Scott Pioli drags
out of pile of paperwork on his desk is from 1994. The handwriting
inside of it, mostly scouting reports on college players from a
bygone era, is tiny and deliberate.

It's the few pages toward the front, though, that are the most
interesting.

That's where the current Chiefs general manager, back then a
young front-office assistant for the Cleveland Browns, has given
himself a withering self-assessment - several pages of improvements
that he's made over time, and things he could be doing better going
forward.

It's not unlike the scathing critique Pioli has been putting
himself through this week.

The Chiefs are mired in 1-5 rut to start the season, and most of
the blame for it has fallen on Pioli, the disciple of Bill Parcells
and Bill Belichick who has struggled to endear himself to
increasingly hostile Kansas City fans weary of losing.

''Clearly there are things we need to fix, things we need to
change, things we need to improve upon,'' Pioli said during an
interview with The Associated Press, ''and it starts with me.''

The Chiefs haven't just been losing, they've been getting blown
out. Four of their five losses have been by two touchdowns, and
their lone victory required a franchise-record comeback. They're
off this week before facing Oakland on Oct. 28.

''We're all frustrated,'' Pioli said Wednesday, sitting in his
office overlooking the Chiefs' practice fields. ''It's not what any
of us came out of the gate expecting.''

Naturally, it's made Pioli's job status the topic du jour.

Pioli said he's not concerned about his future with the
organization, even after a group of fans paid for a banner to fly
over Arrowhead Stadium calling for him to be fired. Pioli said the
biting criticism comes with the job, and that he deserves most of
what's coming his way.

''Everyone has to do their job better in this thing, starting
with me,'' he said. ''I'm in charge of the football operation and
there are things we need to get fixed.''

What are they, exactly?

''I'm not going to get into specifics,'' he said. ''I mean, it's
on display every Sunday.''

The job done by coach Romeo Crennel, the porous defense, the
lousy quarterback play, the lack of impact players, shallow depth
across the board - all of it appears to be fair game.

Pioli admitted changes are necessary, though he said ''getting
into the specifics publicly is not in anybody's best interest right
now.'' The former NFL executive of the year did say he remains
confident in Crennel, who has appeared to struggle as he juggles
duties as the team's defensive coordinator.

Pioli didn't sound nearly as confident in his quarterback
situation.

One of his first significant moves in 2009 was trading for Matt
Cassel, who'd been impressive as a fill-in for injured Patriots
starter Tom Brady. Pioli proceeded to sign Cassel to a six-year,
$63 million deal - one that has tightly tied the GM to the starting
quarterback.

Cassel has struggled mightily the past two seasons, and could
lose his job to backup Brady Quinn next week against Oakland.
Cassel is expected to be available after sustaining a concussion in
a game against Baltimore, but Crennel said the starting spot is
open competition.

''There's a lot of issues,'' Pioli admitted, ''and that position
is one of them.''

Pioli went on to say it's not the only issue, even though in a
league increasingly dependent on consistent quarterback play it may
be most critical. Pioli has been reluctant to use early draft
choices on a quarterback, and the Chiefs haven't selected one in
the first round since 1983.

Pioli admitted that he's made other mistakes in four years on
the scene, though he refused to discuss any of them in detail. He
did say that they encompass all facets of his job.

''They're in compartments, you know what I mean? There are
mistakes I've made in terms of not understanding well enough the
role of the general manager in Kansas City from a public
standpoint. I've made some personnel-decision mistakes,'' he said.
''There's been a lot of mistakes.''

Pressed again on whether that has put his job in jeopardy, Pioli
slowly shook his head and said, ''This isn't about me. This is
about me doing my job.''

''Do you know how many people are counting on me to do my job,
and do my job well?'' he asked. ''I'm talking about coaches,
coaches' families, employees and their families, and all the fans,
people who are emotionally and financially invested in this thing.
I don't have time to worry about me. I have to concern myself with
fixing the team and making the team better. That's the job.''

Pioli said he hears what people outside the organization are
saying, dissatisfied fans who pay for season tickets and the media
that dissects every play. It's impossible not to hear it in Kansas
City, where the Chiefs have been woven into the fabric of the
community for decades.

Pioli also understands that the discontent has festered for
years. The Chiefs haven't won a playoff game since 1993, and are
heading toward their fifth losing season in six years.

That's why he brought in that ragged, old notebook to show his
players recently.

Perhaps it's time for everyone in the organization to take a
moment for introspection, just like Pioli did all those years ago
in Cleveland, and just like he's been doing this week.

''All you can be concerned about is the task at hand,'' Pioli
said. ''Right now the task at hand isn't my job. This isn't about
me, you know what I mean? That's one of the things I've promised
myself. You do the best you can, suck it up, tough it out, work as
hard as you can, and then things will take care of themselves,
however they're meant to be.''

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